Furnace for melting metal



(No Model.)

J. M. 8v J. W. COOPER.

PURNAGB PoR MELTING METAL.

' Patented Nov. 6, 1888.

SEcToN ,535'.

uUNITED STATES FFICE.

PATENT JOHN M. COOPER AND JOHN W. COOPER, OF WEST BELLEVUE, PENNSYLVANIA.

FURNACE FOR MELTING METAL.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 392,187, dated November 6, 1888.

Application filed March 3, 1887. Serial No. 229,628. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that we, JOHN M. COOPER and JOHN W. COOPER, citizens of the United States, residing at West' Bellevue, county of Allegheny, State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Furnaces for Melting Metals, of which the following is a specification.

Our invention relates to improvements in cupola-furnaces whereby gas is substituted for coal or coke. We attain this object by the construction illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1. is a vertical section of the entire furnace. Fig. 2 is a horizontal section of the same on the line R R of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a horizontal section on the line S S of Fig. l; and Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the position of tuyeres and gas and air pipes suitable either for the hearth or for the meltingchamber.

Like letters refer to like parts in the several figures.

a indicates supporting-columns; B, a baseplate; A, the bottom of a hearth; C, the hearth; d, a tap-hole; b, a fore plate; T, an outer shell, and K a refractory lining, these parts being of the usual construction.

F indicates a melting-chamber, which may be charged with metal through any suitable door, h. Air and gas are supplied to this chamber and to the hearth in proper proportions and quantities through the upper and lower bustle-pipes, G H, and tuyeres f, respectivel y. In operation the products of combustion descend to the base of chamber 'F and Y escape to stack O through the exit-fines@ c.

Waste gases also escape through the lower exits, e c.

Between the meltingchamber and the hearth is an arch, cover, or cap, E, made of refractory material and provided with passages a. This arch supports the charge of unmelted metal, which, when it becomes molten, lows down through said passages a. The arch E and its tlues are kept-in a heated condition by the combustion which occurs above and below it, and also by the heat of the waste gases which ascend from the hearth through flues e, and lines n may be arranged adjacent to flues e to maintain the heat of the former.

The hearth of heating-chamber C is provided with a tap-hole, d, and plate b, and also with bustle-pipes and tuyeres and exit-lines similar to those used in connection with the melting-chamber F. Its exit-fines c, however, do not extend to the base of the hearth, but only down to about its mid-height, where they open into the same sufficiently high above the bottom toleave below them a receptacle for molten metal, so that these lues may not be closed by it, but be always open for the escapeof waste gases.

The chamber F is covered by an arch or cap similarto that which covers the heating-chamber C. It is not provided with ilues n for molten metal, except when more than asingle chamber, F, is employed, as may be the case when it is desired to melt metals of different character. Arch J without lues a, represents the upper chamber, whether two or more be employed. The arch or cap E is far enough above the waste-gas fines e of hearth C to provide room for combustion. Two, four, six, or more tuyeres may be used and in the same plane just below cap E. The gas-pipes H and air-pipes G encircle the shell, and bothconnect with each tuyere, the quantity of air and gas supplied to the furnace being regulated by suitable valves. (Not necessary to illustrate.)

The construction described is such that gas may be burned below E and the waste products allowed to escape at c e, by which the hearth may be heated for the reception of molten metal, and thereafter kept at or raised to any desired temperature. The metal channels n are built in the cap E where it joins the lining K. They are made large enough to allow the melted metal to tlow down into hearth C, but not so large as to materially impair the heating effect of the adjacent tlues e and of the arch E. The top ofthe arch or cap E forms the bottom of the melting-chamber F. The arch or cap J is similar to cap E, except that there are no metal channels a in If, however, more than one melting-chamber is used, then the bottom of each has metal channels.

The arch or cap J is far enough above the IOO bottom E to leave room for combustion after into the chamber.

, first is putin the lower chamber F. The doors are then closed and the gas ignited in hearth C and in the melting chamber or chambers F to heat the metal up to the melting-point by the time the hearth is hot enough to receive it. After the metal is melted it can be tapped ont as required.

W'c are aware that a combined cupola-furnace and converter has been prepared having an exit at or near the top ofthe converter and through the arch that separates the latter from the cupola, as described in Patent No. 828,042, grautedto M. Lysett; and we are further aware that a cupola-furnace has been provided with cduction-flues situated in its walls to conduct away gases from near its bottom or from near the point where the blast is usually injected in such furnaces, and we do not claim such arrangements nor an aggregation of them. Our construction and arrangement are such that the exit-11ues open into the heating-chamber at its sides and below its dome or arched covcring, whereby a combustion-chamber is pro vided above said exits and whereby space is provided for the upward expansion and circulation of incoming gases and for their thorough union with the oxygen of the ai r-supply, and by which the floor of the melting-chamber above is kept hot, and also the molten metal below. ln such chamber ample room for the mingling of gases and air is afforded and a reverberatory effect is produced, which results could not be secured in like manner were the entire furnace filled with the charge, as in operating the furnace described in English Patent No. 692, A.. 1865, or were the exits located in the dome or arch, as in the combined cupola and converter above referred to.

Having thus described our invention, what we desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent isl. In a cupolafurnace, alicarth or Cruciblechamber provided with a tap-hole and having flues for products of combustion located in the walls and communicating with said chamber at or near its mid-height, and gas and air supply pipes, a. metal-melting chamber located in the upper portion oi' the cupola, an arch or cap forming the floor of the melting-chamber, said cap being provided with channels for molten metal and communicating with the crucible-chambcr and air and gas supply pipes and dues for products of combustion located in the Walls of the melting-chamber, substantially as described.

2. In a cupola-furnace, a hearth or cruciblcchamber provided with a tap-hole and having flues for products of combustion located in the walls and communicating with said chamber at or nearits midheight,and gas and air supply pipes, a metal-melting chamber located in the upper portion of the cupola, an arch or cap forming the floor of the melting-chamber, said cap being provided with channels for molten metal and communicating with the cruciblechamber, said channels being adjacent to the before-mentioned lues for products of combustion, and air and gas supply pipes and flues for products of combustion located in the walls of the melting-chamber, substantially as described.

3. In a cupola-furnace, a hearth or cruciblechamber provided with a taphole and having flues for products of combustion located in the walls and communicating with said chamber at or near its midheight,and gas and air supply pipes, a metal-melting chamber located in the upper portion of the cupola,provided with an exit for products of combustion, an arch or cap forming thc floor 0f the melting-chamber, said cap being provided with channels for molten metal and communicating with the crucible-chamber, and air and gas supply pipes, substantially as described.

JOHN M. COOPER. JOHN XV. COOPEl.

Wil nesscs:

JOHN GRO wrm Ni mi, JNO. G mrr. 

